Britain Might Hand over Power to Self-appointed “arab Administration.” London Rears

Some members of the so-called Arab Administration for Palestine, which claims sovereignty over the entire country, may receive administrative powers in Palestine from the British Government, well informed British circles predicted today.

While official quarters claim to have no information on the new “Administration” which was set up in Cairo yesterday beyond newspaper reports, and reiterate that Britain will only hand over power to the U.N. Implementation Commission, it is understood that there is an alternative proposal under consideration in the event that the Implementation Commission arrives in Palestine too late to accept authority when the British lay down the Mandate, or in the event that the Commission is unable to carry out its functions.

Under the alternative plan the British would hand over control in the Arab areas individually to persons comprising the new Arab Administration, although not to the Administration as such. The British would thus be in a position to state that they did nothing which contravened the U.N. decision, although practically their action would amount to recognition of an Arab state in the whole of Palestine.